by Donna Grant
After relieving herself, she splashed some water from her water skin onto her face. She hurriedly raked her fingers through her tangled hair and braided it.
When she returned to their camp Gregor had already saddled both horses. "Ready?" he asked as he helped her on her mare.
"Aye."
"Then let's ride," he said and swung up on Morgane.
She watched the ease in which Gregor weaved them through the rocks on the mountains. It on the tip of her tongue to ask when was the last time he had ridden this way, but she knew he wouldn't answer her.
Although he hadn't spoken of his banishment again, she still couldn't belief he had killed his sister. She wanted to know the story, to know what happened, but any fool could see his mouth was shut tight on that subject.
She couldn't blame him. She still didn't like to talk about Moira, and what plagued him was much worse than a sister that abandoned her.
He rode well in front of her, and the path was too narrow for them to ride side by side, which allowed her mind to wander over everything that had happened since she had left her home.
The one thing she knew was that Gregor was a good man. Even if he did kill his sister, he had changed. He came close to being the only person she truly trusted and that bothered her to no end.
Her heart was something she had to keep shut away so she wouldn't get hurt again. But Gregor's misery pulled at her heartstrings.
The one thing she could do was keep him away from her. Their lovemaking had been incredible but something she would do everything in her power not to allow it to happen again. With him being her mate she chanced everything being this near to him.
If she didn't watch it, her heart would chose without her knowledge and all would be lost. She would be abandoned once again.
Never.
Once they reached the Druid's Glen she would make sure never to see him again. It was her only option.
"Fiona," Gregor called over his shoulder as he came to a stop.
She rode up alongside him where the path widened a little. One look at his face and she knew she wasn't going to like what he had to say.
"I have to leave."
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
"What?"
Gregor knew by Fiona's wide eyes that she hadn't expected his words. "I cannot risk endangering your life."
"'Tis your job to bring me to the Druids."
"Aye. Alive. You will be safer if you stay here."
"Nay," she stated and kicked her mare into a walk.
He sighed and looked up at the sky. How did he get stuck with the most stubborn woman in all of Scotland? He trotted Morgane ahead of Fiona and stopped sideways in the path. There was very little room for her to go around him.
"Listen to me," he said in his most stern voice. "I will return for you."
"I'm not going to take that chance. You need me."
He winced when he heard the desperation in her voice. There was no denying the fear in her, and he was an ass for putting her through this but it was for her own good.
"MacNeil wants you. I cannot allow him to get his hands on you," he argued.
She crossed her arms over her chest and raised her chin. "Have you forgotten I have powers?"
"Nay, I haven't, but that is beside the point."
" 'Tis exactly the point. I can help you," she said her eyes full of unease.
He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, but the ache continued. With a vicious jerk of his head sideways he popped his neck and repeated it on the other side.
"This is war, Fiona. MacNeil will have innocent people mixed with his soldiers so you won't use your powers. He's not a stupid man."
She had nothing more to say, and the desolation in her gaze burned him. He helped her down and into a cave he knew was hidden behind one of the boulders.
After he killed a hare and started a fire, he stood and looked at her. She hadn't said another word to him. He hated her silence.
Never thought I would think that.
He wanted her to yell at him or argue, not to act as if he didn't exist.
"I will be back as soon as I can," he said.
Still she refused to look at him. He sighed and moved to the entrance of the cave. "Stay here, Fiona. If in three days I haven't returned, head toward the waterfall and take the path to the left. You will find your way to the Druids."
He waited for her to say something, when she didn't he walked out of the cave. There was an odd ache in his chest that he refused to acknowledge, and like every other emotion he had, he shoved it down in the darkness where his heart used to reside.
* * * *
Fiona was glad Gregor hadn't seen the tears that fell down her face. She couldn't believe he had left her, regardless of the fact he said he was coming back. Only a foolish woman would sit and wait for him.
She was about to leave the cave when she realized she was scared to go on without him. This is what she had been afraid of. She didn't wish to need or want him. The tears coursed faster down her face.
It became too much to think about and she lie down. It was only midday, but she soon found herself lulled to sleep by her tears.
The dream began almost immediately. She watched Gregor fight the MacNeil soldiers as he stood on the steps of the castle beside his father. Then a man wearing a cloak stepped behind Gregor and thrust a long dagger into his back.
She screamed and sat up. Despite what Gregor said, she had to follow him. She couldn't allow her dream to come true. Gregor wouldn't die, not if she could help it.
After hurriedly dousing the fire and saddling her mare she mounted and took off after Gregor. Only a few hours had elapsed so she just might reach him in time.
She didn't want to think about becoming lost since she hadn't asked him how to reach his clan, but she hoped the path she saw him take would lead her to it. She refused to think about what would happen if she didn't find her way.
The sun had begun its descent and still no trace of Gregor or his clan. Dread began to fill her. She was lost. She would never reach Gregor now.
She continued to follow the path, praying with each bend of the road that she would find Gregor or his clan. As she rounded one bend she pulled her mare to a halt as she found her way blocked. The two men stood in the path, blocking her way.
Fear began to rise up in her until she noticed their glittering blue eyes. They were Fae. Relief engulfed her as she realized they could help her.
"Do you know the way to the MacLachlan's?" she asked.
Aimery abruptly stepped from behind the men. "Hello, Fiona."
She sighed and gave him a small smile. "Aimery. I'm so glad you are here. I need to know the way to the MacLachlan clan."
"Do you know what will happen if you go?" His somber voice gave her a moment's hesitation.
"Do you know what will happen if I don't?" she asked.
"Aye. I do."
His response wasn't what she expected. "Then you know I must go."
"Then you care for Gregor?"
"He saved my life. I'm returning the favor," she answered, hoping it was enough.
Aimery smiled and shook his head. "You cannot lie to me. I see into your soul. It would make your life easier if you would stop lying to yourself."
She had had enough. There wasn't time for a lecture. "Will you point the way or not?"
"You have come too far. Turn back and take the left fork you passed," he said as he turned his back on her.
She looked over her shoulder at the path, and when she turned back around the three Fae were gone. "That figures," she mumbled and turned her mare about.
If she didn't become lost again and rode fast she might make it to the MacLachlan's before dawn. She leaned down across her mare's neck and whispered in her ear, "If by some chance you know the way to Gregor, please take me. I haven't much time."
The mare snorted and nodded its great head up and down. Fiona sat up and patted the mare's neck. "Let's go then," she said and clicked the horse into a gallop.
Fiona didn't know how long she rode or if she was lost. The stars twinkled above her and as long as the clouds didn't cover the moon it lighted her way. She knew her horse was tired and she began to worry again.
Surely she should have reached the MacLachlan's by now. She tamped down her fear and continued riding. It wasn't until she crested a hill that she spotted the castle below her.
She couldn't tell much about it but was more concerned about just whose castle this was. She dismounted and walked her mare off the crest of the hill. It wouldn't do for her to be spotted.
Once she tied the mare to a tree branch, she crept closer to the castle. She was within three feet of one of the soldiers, but she couldn't make out his plaid. Her luck held out though when another soldier walked out holding a torch. From the meager light the torch shed she spotted his kilt.
It wasn't a MacLachlan.
* * * *
Gregor yearned to stretch his cramping muscles. He had been in the same position since early evening. Once he reached the castle he had scouted the area and its occupants. MacNeil and another man were inside the castle, but Gregor didn't see any soldiers.
Where were they?
From the brief view, he knew his father didn't like MacNeil and the other man there, but hadn't kicked them out. Which was unlike his father.
He had also been startled to see white hair covering his father's head instead of his usual dark brown. Lines creased his face and his eyes were sunken.
Gregor was shaken by that glimpse of his father, and he wondered how his mother was. He would deal with that later, though. Right now, he needed to hide until MacNeil's soldiers showed up.
While he kept to the shadows, Gregor made his way toward the side of the castle. The wood was still piled the same, and if he were lucky his old hiding place would still be there. It took some doing, but he managed to move some of the wood and fold himself into the hole.
He not only had a perfect view of the front of the castle, but he could also see the gatehouse entrance. If MacNeil or his soldiers tried anything, he would know about it.
That had been about ten hours ago. His belly rumbled with hunger and his legs cramped painfully from being bent against his chest. He dug out another piece of bread he had stolen from the kitchen and began to eat. It would be a long time until dawn when he assumed MacNeil's troops would arrive.
He'd finished the bread when he heard shouts outside the castle gate. One of his father's men opened it and two of MacNeil's men rode inside. Gregor bit the inside of his mouth at the stupidity of the soldier at the gatehouse. The MacLachlan's didn't think MacNeil posed a threat because he had only two men with him, but they didn't know MacNeil as he did.
* * * *
It was a MacNeil. Fiona stood frozen as the two soldiers laughed and joked about how easy it was to gain access into the MacLachlan castle.
She sucked in a breath as one of the soldiers leaned against the castle wall, just inches from her. If she weren't careful, her planning would be for naught.
Slowly she backed away from the soldiers until she could make her way to her mare. Thankfully the mare was still there. Fiona didn't know when MacNeil planned his attack, but she would be waiting.
She untied her horse and slapped it on the rump. It wouldn't do for them to see her mare in the morning. After the mare had run off, Fiona crawled in between the two trees where a bush grew. The bush offered her protection as well as a view of the castle.
Now, all she had to do was wait.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
MacNeil took a large swig of his ale as he surveyed MacLachlan's hall. The laird was making it plain he wanted him to leave but he hadn't come out and said it. Yet.
His eyes traveled to his companion. He sat alone in front of the hearth, his dark cloak pulled around him. The Shadow. MacNeil snorted and drank more ale.
MacNeil's fingers itched for a battle. If he had had his way he would have attacked these weak, pathetic excuses of Highlanders yesterday, but The Shadow had stopped him.
And for what? For Gregor?
He didn't give a horse's arse whether Gregor saw his clan's destruction or not. Gregor had his coming very soon, MacNeil thought with an inward smirk.
"Does the ale please you, Laird MacNeil?"
MacNeil turned his head to find MacLachlan's wife, Margaret, standing beside him. "It would suit me better with a woman."
She straightened her spin as the fake smile left her face. "If one of the women wants you, then take them, but you won't force one."
"You should know better than to talk to a man that way," he bellowed and slammed his goblet down on the table.
"I think you should go to your chamber and sleep off the ale," MacLachlan said as he came to your feet. "I won't allow you to talk to my wife in such a way."
MacNeil laughed and was about to lunge over the table after the old laird when a hand clamped down on his shoulder. He didn't need to look to know it was the Shadow.
"I think the laird is correct, MacNeil. Your chamber is calling for you," the Shadow said and pushed him toward the stairs.
MacNeil started up the steps and was thinking about which woman he wanted in his bed when The Shadow's voice reached him once more. "Remember what Lady MacLachlan said. No forcing the women."
Rage surged within him at the audacity of the man. MacNeil stopped and debated on whether to take the Shadow's head or not. After all, he was just a man, and men could be killed.
But before he got up the courage to turn around, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, and he had the unmistakable feeling that the Shadow knew what he had been thinking. He continued up the stairs to his chamber and forgot about killing or women.
The Shadow waited until MacNeil was out of sight before he turned back to Margaret and Beathan. "Please forgive him. He doesn't hold his ale well."
Margaret smiled and bowed as she left the hall. Beathan began to pace. "For several days you have stayed here as my guests, and I have waited patiently for you to tell me what brought the two of you here." Beathan stopped and turned toward him. "I think 'tis time you told me."
The Shadow smiled. "You will discover all tomorrow morning, laird. I give you my word."
"I hope so, because if you don't, my men will escort you off my land."
He allowed the old laird his threat. After all, tomorrow he would be dead, so what did it hurt? He bowed and left the hall, intending to make sure MacNeil stayed in his chamber for the night. It would be just like MacNeil to do something rash and stupid and get them 'escorted' tonight.
To his relief, MacNeil was sprawled across his bed, asleep. But just to be sure, he put a spell on the door so no one could get inside the chamber and MacNeil couldn't leave.
At least until morning when he would unleash MacNeil and his soldiers.
* * * *
Aimery motioned to his army of soldiers to fan out around the surrounding hills overlooking MacLachlan castle. They would stay hidden and watch as long as Fiona wasn't in danger, but the moment MacNeil or the Evil One got their hands on her, he would send his army down to destroy them.
He just hoped it didn't come to that. Fiona knew how to use her powers, and all he could expect was for her to use them to save Gregor.
A brisk wind blew off the nearby loch and pulled strands of hair into his face. He took out a small strip of leather and pulled his hair back at the base of his neck and tied it off. He wanted an unobstructed view of the battle.
Aimery's gaze found the horizon. The black sky was giving way to gray. The time drew near.
* * * *
Fiona sighed and tried to rub the soreness from her neck. Before she knew what she was doing she tried to pop her neck. Just as she was about to stop, she heard a loud pop and the pain lessened.
"No wonder he cracks his neck all the time," she said as she turned her head one way then the other.
Pink and purple graced the sky as the sun began its climb. Apprehension filled her body. The battle would be today, b
ut where were MacNeil's soldiers?
Her question was answered a moment latter when the earth shook from hundreds of horses that came barreling toward the castle. She glanced toward the castle, and instead of finding MacLachlan soldiers at the gate, she found the two MacNeil men.
Something had already happened inside. She couldn't decide whether to stay where she was, or attempt to get inside the castle.
And where was Gregor?
Her terror grew until she shook with it. She had never been in this situation before. What if she did something wrong?
You already did. Gregor told you to stay in the cave for a reason.
She ignored her conscious and looked over her shoulder where she expected MacNeil's army to ride. She didn't have long to wait as line after line of soldiers rode toward the MacLachlan castle.
"I need to get inside," she whispered to herself.
* * * *
Gregor fingered the dagger in his boot. 'Twas a clear shot to the MacNeil soldier by the gatehouse, but it was too soon to alert anyone to his presence. He needed to bide his time and take out as many as possible at once.
His ears picked up a voice he thought to never hear again. "Mother," he murmured as he tried to turn his head so he could see her.
Unfortunately, she was in the kitchen. She must have been by the window in order for him to hear her. There was no mistaking the trepidation in her voice as she talked to a servant about the day's meals.
He closed his eyes against the stab of longing that pierced his chest. Everyone loved his gentle mother, and the fact that she feared something told him things were going awry inside.
Every bone in his body urged him to seek his mother out, but he couldn't. If he did, 'twould destroy every plan of attack he had. Even with the prospect of never seeing her, he stayed rooted to his spot. His parent's and his clan's safety was his ultimate goal.
They need never know he was there.
* * * *
MacNeil chuckled and rubbed his hands together as he stood atop the tower. His army had arrived. All that was left was giving them the signal to invade the castle.
A sound reached him, and he turned and found MacLachlan. He almost smiled at spotting the two large soldiers that flanked the old laird. "You don't seem too happy this morn."